gibbs



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. A. GIBBS. HAY RACK.

No. 457,876. Patented Aug. 18, 1891.

WITNEssEfl- I NVENTEI 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. A. GIBBS.

HAY RACK.

Patented Aug. 18, 1891.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARDNER A. GIBBS, OF LIVONIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T CHARLESGAMBEE, OF SAME PLACE.

HAY-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,876, dated August18, 1891.

Application filed April 29, 1391.

To all whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, GARDNER A. GIBBS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Livonia, in the county of Livingston, in the State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHay-Racks, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghadto the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters indicate similarparts in the several views.

My invention consists in the improvements hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of my hay-rack. Fig. 2is a side view thereof when the sides are raised to the verticalposition and the end-gates are inserted. Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofmy device on the line a: 00 of Fig. 2, and shows in dotted lines theposition of the side pieces when placed in the position shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one side of my device, showing the sidesin two positions and showing the combined clamp and hinge. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view of the irons of the combined clamp and hinge.

A represents the Wagon-body of an ordinary farm-wagon, and A A representthe sides thereof.

13 B represent cross-bars resting on the top of the ends or end-gates ofthe wagon-body. O 0 represent stops fastened to said crossbars. D Drepresent bolts adapted to fasten said cross-bars and stops firmly uponthe wagon-body. E E represent end bars hinged to said cross-bars, as bythe pins e e.

F F represent the slats forming the sides of the hay-rack.

G G represent braces fastened to the slats.

H. represents the irons of the combined clamp and hinge. This iscomposed of a main part having two rectangular bends forming two legs,one of which is longer than the other, and having a portion connectingthe two legs h j, equal in length to the thickness of the side of thewagon-body. The longer leg j is adapted to fit on the outer side of theside of the wagon-body andthe shorterleghto extend over and clamp theinner side of the side of the wagon-body. Upon the portion k, connectingthe two legs, is asuitable hinge Z, one partor leaf Serial No. 390.993-(No model.)

of which is a strap oriron b, of suitable length, adapted to be fastenedto the cross-pieces G, or, if so desired, directly to the slats F F, theclamp forming the other part of the hinge. On the outer side of the longlegj of the clamp is fasten ed a slotted guide d. A suitable brace f ishinged to the long iron b, and passes through the guide d. This brace isof such length that when the iron b is moved into the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 4., the brace will rest upon the bottom of theguide d, and will thus support the slats F F, and the hay or othermaterial which may rest upon them. The end bars E E will then abutagainst the stops 0 C, and the sides will then also be supported in thisway. The guide cl is long enough to permit the brace f to move from theposition just described to a position which will permit the slats F F tobe raised into a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4.

J J represent end-gates, which may be placed between the slats F F whenthe same are raised to a vertical position, and have vertical bars K K,which fit against the end bars E E, when the same are in a verticalposition, and tend to retain the same in that position. Cross-bolts L Lmay be used, which shall pass through the end bars E E and the verticalbars K K, and may fasten them solidly in the vertical position and holdthe end-gates J J firmly in place.

When this device is to be used as a hayrack, the end-gates are removedand the slats and connected devices are placed in a position shown inFig. 1, so that the ends of the end bars E E press against the stops 0O, and the sides of the hay-rack are then supported by this means aswell as by the braces f f. When the parts are placed in the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the hay-rackis thereby converted into astock-wagon or a wagon with a deep body at will. Removable slats may beinserted between the slats F F in order to make the wagon-body moreclose than when the same are omitted.

,7 By removing the bolts D D the whole hayrack may be easily removedfrom the wagonbody, and a wagon is not mutilated in any way by theapplication of the hay-rack, except that holes are bored through thebottom IOO to permit the insertionof the bolts or fastenings D D.

I prefer not to fasten my device to a wagonbody, except by the boltsD D;but obviously, if it is so preferred, screws or bolts may be used tofasten the hinged clamps H H to the wagon-body.

The advantages of this device are that it can be adapted by an ordinarymechanic of small ability to any Wagon-body which he may desire to useby making the cross-bars B B and slats F F of suitable length. The ironsH H are easily adapted to the slats by such a person, and the wholedevice may be easily removed from a Wagon-body, and is simple, strong,and easy to use. Further, the parts of this device interfere butslightly with the ability to use the full capacity of the wagonbody.

What I claim is 1. In a hay-rack, the combination of cross- 1 pieceshaving stops attached thereto, end bars pivoted to said cross-pieces andadapted to abut against the stops, side slats fastened to said end bars,and a series of hinged irons, one part of each of which is adapted tofit on the side of a wagon-body and the other part of which is adaptedto support said slats, together with braces to strengthen and supportthe two parts of the hinge.

2. In a hay-rack, cross-bars provided with stops, and means forremovably fastening the same to a Wagon-body, in combination with endbars pivoted to said cross-bars and adapted to abut against said stops,and a series of hinges, each composed of a clamp detachable from thewagon-body and a leaf attached to the side slats of the hay-rack.

GARDNER A. GIBBS.

Witnesses:

J. B. THURSTON, W. B. THURSTON.

